Shower door assembly



April 17, 1956 R. J. DIETRICH 2,741,778

SHOWER DOOR ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 18, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.HA1. PH :Z 015 TE/ CH ATTORNEY.

April 17, 1956 R. J. DIETRICH SHOWER DOOR ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed 00 18, 1954 IN VEN TOR.

,4 T TOQNEY.

ALPH (I; D/ETQ/CH,

Unite States SHOWER DOOR ASSEMBLY Ralph J. Dietrich, Los Angeles,ilalif.

Application October 18, B54, Serial No. 462,659

4 Claims. (Cl. 4-145) This invention relates generally to improvedbathing stall enclosures of the type comprising either or both movableand stationary panels, and more particularly has to do with improvedpanel assemblies facilitating ready access from shower stall interior tobathing equipment supported on the outer or dry side of such assemblies,the invention having desirable application to bathing stall doorassemblies.

With regard to conventional shower stall construction in which, forexample, an ordinary door separates the wet interior of the stall fromthe dry exterior, the wet bather is considerably inconvenienced inhaving to open the door and reach or step outward to obtain a dryingtowel or other equipment, which must be kept dry. In so doing, there ispresented the danger of slipping on the wet fioor of the shower stall oron the floor exterior to the stall, which also becomes wet as waterdrips from the bather. To my knowledge, no way has been found toeliminate these inconveniences, other than storing the drying towelsomewhere within the shower stall interior, wherein the risk is createdthat the towel will become at least dampened, no matter how well storedduring the showering process.

My proposed shower stall door assembly has distinct advantages overconventional and prior doors of this type in that means are now providedenabling the bather to gain ready access to dry bathing equipmentwithout having to open the door and risk a fall by stepping or reachingout of the stall. Furthermore, the door assembly is such as to maintainthe bathing equipment in a thoroughly dry condition, since communicationbetween the interior of the stall and the support for the bathingequipment may be completely out off during showering. In addition, thesupport is so located as to be readily accessible from the exterior ofthe shower stall, facilitating replacement of the equipment withouthaving to open the door.

In keeping with the above described advantages, there is provided in theupper portion of the shower stall door a through opening communicatingbetween the inner and outer sides of the door. A closure for the openingis hinged to open toward the inner side of the door, and the closure ispreferably offset from the door so that a support for bathing equipmentmay be contained within the door assembly. To keep the support dry, theclosure is normally retained in closed or covering relation with theopening at the shower stall side thereof, so that the support is readilyaccessible from the shower stall exterior. Access to the support fromthe interior of the shower stall is gained by swinging the closure awayfrom the opening and into the stall interior.

All the various features and objects of the invention, as well as thedetails of an illustrative embodiment, will appear more fully understoodfrom the following descrip tion of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a view of the outside of the shower door assembly;

Fig. 2 is a partly cutaway view of the rear of the shower door assemblyfacing the interior of a shower stall;

2541378 Patented Apr. 17, 1956 Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a portionof the door taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is another section taken through the door on line 44 of Fig. 1;and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a small portion of the doortaken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

As will appear from the drawings, the shower door assembly 1'5 ismounted within a rectangular opening 11 provided by shower stallentrance framework 12, which is afiixed to the tiled wall 13. The doorassembly is pivotally mounted to the outer framework 12 by means of avertical piano hinge 14 having one arm connected to the edge of the doorframe 15 and the other arm joined to the leg of a right angle door jamb16 mounted against the outer framework 12, as shown in Fig. 4. Anotherdoor jarnb 16 is provided on the opposite side of the door on framework12, so that the projecting legs of the jambs limit closing of the dooras it swings toward the interior of the shower stall, in the usualmanner.

Door frame 15, which defines the perimeter of the door assembly, isshown to comprise a U-shaped or channeled member opening toward thecenter of the door assembly. Extending horizontally between and joinedto the vertically extending sections of the frame is another framemember of support 17, which may be conveniently formed to have anH-shape in section for the purposes to be described. That portion of thedoor assembly beneath support 17 may be constructed in the usual mannerto include, for example, an opaque glass panel 18, the edges of whichare enveloped by rubber channels 19 and 191, which pref- I erablycomprise neoprene or other synthetic rubber material. The rubberchannels 19 and 191 may be pressure set within the channels in support17 and frame 15 to form a water-tight seal therewith.

That portion of the shower door assembly above the support includes thenovel construction which will now be described. The door frame 15 abovethe support 17 and the support itself generally define an opening 20through the door, also bounded by a horizontal shelf 21 at the base ofthe opening and vertical side panels 22 at the sides of the opening. Aclosure 23 is carried at the rear of the through opening, ofiset fromthe plane of the door frame 15 toward the interior of the shower stall,and it forms along with the side panels and the shelf a type ofopen-front cabinet which is recessed toward the closure and toward theinterior of the shower stall. The tops of the closure 23 and door frame15 are spaced considerably below the top of entrance framework 12 toprovide a steam exit therebetween.

The shelf is shown to include a downward projection 24, contained inrubber channel 25, which is pressure-set within an upwardly facingchannel in support 17. The shelf 21 also includes front and rearuprights 26, the latter being joined to vertical door jambs 27 formed onopposite side panels 22. Vertical flanges 28 carried by the panels andprojecting at right angles thereto are pressureset in rubber channels 29carried within opposite side frame members 15.

The closure 23 is shown to comprise a rectangular frame 3% supporting arectangular pane of glass 31, the edges of which are enveloped by arubber channel 32. The latter is pressure-set within the channeled frame30 to form a water-tight seal therewith. Swinging movement of theclosure 23 toward the interior of the shower stall is facilitated by ahinge 33, one arm of which is joined to a vertical side portion of theframe 30 and the other arm of which is connected to an extension 34 ofthe side panel 22. It goes without saying that the hinge 33 ispositioned in such a way as to allow the closure to swing into positionagainst the jambs 27 whenever closing of the through opening 20 isdesired.

In conformance with the invention, a horizontal towel what 35 issupported between opposite side panels 22 in the position shown in Fig.3, and towels .36 may be conveniently suspended from the bar as shown inFig l. In addition, other bathing' equiprnentgmay be carried by theshelf 21 beneath the ban. sinceqthe the:interior of the stall. cannotwet the .towelshor other bathing equipment on -the shelf when theclosure isclosed, VJhen-the batherdesiresfto dryhimself, he

7 need only swing. the closure inwardly toward the stall so asto gainreadyaccess to. the towels 36,,instead of closure, 23.-is,positionedbetween. the. interior of, the shower stall and the'towel bar and shelf,watenfrom.

having to open-.the shower door itself and .step out of.

thestall. Access totthe towel -bar fromhtheaexterior.

' stall the. towels will. also be carried inward for. ready use.

While the door. assembly 18 has been. shown .and deseribedras,pivotallyconnected to the. outer framework 12,,litmay. he. desirableto.mount. the door .panel .for sliding movement behind .a stationaryshower. stall-panel, in .which casethe frlamestructure. for theopeningshould.

not projectibeyondnthe plane of the door. ontheoutside thereo hv Itis,.alsowithinthe. .conternplationso'r the.

invention .to..-oper.atively. combine .the closure vand'frame structure.withl.an., opening in, a .stationary vshower stall panelrather,thanhthe door.

1.,In.com,binatio,n .with a bathingstall shower struc-. ture comprisingwalls enclosing a stall compartment and.

water, shower means withinithe compartment, an improved movable doorassembly comprising an upright bathingstallmain door for forming aportion of said Wallsandthe stall enclosure and having an opening in theupper portion thereof through which unobstructed. access maybe had fromthe inside of the door to its outside, a movable closure for saidopening, directly accessible at the inside of the door for movement in-Wardly of the stall by an occupant thereof, and a towel supportcarriedby said main door at the outside of said closure and, extendingsubstantially horizontally and parallel to the plane, of said door. for.carrying a towel so.

that the towel is always accessible; from the inside of the doorthrong): said opening when said closure is opened and jatthe outside ofsaid doorwhileremainingin the same, position relative to the door.

'2.In' combination with a bathing stall shower structure, comprisingWalls enclosing a stall compartment and Water shower means within thecompartment, an improved movable door assembly comprising an uprightbathing stall main door for forming a portion of said walls and thestall enclosure and including a frame forming an opening in the upperportion of the door through which unobstructed access may be had fromthe inside of the door to. its outside when the door remains closed, amovable closure for said opening hinged to said frame.anddirectly"accessibleaat the inside of the door for swinging movementinwardly of the stall by an occupant thereof, and a-towel support barcarried by said frame at thev outside of saidclosure and extendingsubstantially horizontally and parallel to the plane of said door forcarryinga. towel so that the towel is always accessible from the insideof the door through said opening when said closure is opened and at theoutside of said door while remaining in the same positionrelative to.the door.

'3.-In combination witha bathing stallshower structure comprising wallsencloisng ,a stallcompartmentand water. shower means within thecompartment, an im proved .movabledoor assembly comprising an uprightbathing .stall.main.,.door for forming a portion of said walls and thestall 'enclosureand including a frame door plane, a movable closurehinged to one of said frame sides in inwardly ofi'set relation to saiddoor plane and direetly'accessible at the inside of the door formovement inwardly of the stall by anoccupant thereof, and 'a towelsupport bar carried by said frame sides at. the outside of said'closureand. extending across said.

opening substantially. horizontally and parallel to the plane of saiddoor for carrying a towelso that the towel. is always accessible fromthe inside of the door through said opening when, said closure is openedand 'at the.

outside of said door while remaining in'tlre same posi* tion relative tothe 'door.

4.Th'e invention as defined in claim 3 in which said frame includes anupper cross member connecting 'said sides, said;member. extendingsubstantially" parallel to said bar and. spaced a substantial distancethereabove.

References-Cited-in the file of this patent UNITED..STAJES PATENTS1,531.;776 Altschul. Apr; 20,. 1926 2,595,506.: Baokman a May 6,1952 I2,632,531 Marchand. Man 24, 1953

